Smooth Integration: the happy marriage of a CRIS and a repository

Abstract

In May of 2018, the University of Stirling replaced its CRIS with Worktribe. The previous integration between our former CRIS and STORRE, our DSpace full text repository, had been a bit fraught. This time our developer decided that he would do the integration right. He created a separate application layer between Worktribe and STORRE, the STORRE queue. This layer allows the library team to control what records are exported and when they are exported, to avoid overwhelming the system. This is also useful for imposing appropriate embargoes after library staff have validated output records.

Additionally, our developer created a suite a tools which allows the Library to fix any issues that arise with output records – the output has gone in the wrong collection, the file title was updated during the move to Worktribe, but this change is at variance with the integration, or a record needs to be removed from STORRE (for example, caused by duplicate records in Worktribe). Additionally, he has given the Library the power to create new collections and to create mappings to collections from new organisation units. The developer’s brilliant work means that the integration works smoothly, disasters are averted, and issues are easy to fix.